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Champagne and Imported Sparkling Wines
 Of the great wines of France, Champagne is the newest arrival. Champagne as a district has been making wine since the early Roman times, and by the ninth century it had become sufficiently well established as a high quality region for distinction to be drawn between the wines of the Vallee de la Marne and those of the Montagne de Reims. From this time on it went from strength to strength: by the early sixteenth century, the wine of Ay had become so highly prized that it was said to be 'the ordinary drink of Kings and Princes. It was not until the seventeenth century, however, that the first sparkling wines made their appearance, and not until the nineteenth century that Champagne came to be synonymous with sparkling wine. neither were the numerous special techniques essential for making Champagne all discovered by discovered by one person - notwithstanding the extraordinary feats popularly attributed to Dom Perignon nor at any one time.
The evolution of the present day method of making clear sparkling wine using the second fermentation took over 200 years. Champagne is a wine that appeals to the broadest senses, rather than to the particular. It is the overall impression it leaves in the mouth after it is swallowed which matters most .It is true that the greatest Champagnes are wines of extraordinary finesse, balance, and above all else length of flavours, the intrinsic quality of these wines is on a par with the greatest of the still white or red table wines. Just as the Burgundians place special emphasis on the bouquet, the Bordelais on the palate and structure, so the Champenois claim the finish and, in particular, the aftertaste as a special feature of their wine. Not that all Champagnes taste the same, there is a world of difference between a Pol Roger and a Krug,a Taittinger and Bollinger, let a alone between a vintage Champagne of one of the grandes marques and a non vintage, "buyer's own brand" from one of the cooperatives. Yet the overall consistency of the quality and style and non - vintage Champagne from the grandes marques exceeds that of any other category of wine in any region - an astonishing achievement, given the marginal climate in which the Champenois grow their their grapes, and the fluctuations in supply and demand which they so skilfully manage from making viewpoints.
 Assemblage known as blending is the most critical stage of the long and delicate process which makes the finished Champagne. It is the art that made Dom Perignon the most famous oenologist of his day, indeed, perhaps the famous winemaker in history. Blending involves a detailed knowledge of the past, present, and future of the materials, and requires highly specialized tasting skills which can see beyond the often hard, acidic, thin, and chalky base wines that give only a barest glimpse of how they will taste once they have been blended, undergone the second fermentation, benefited from contact with yeasts during years of maturation on the lees, and been adjusted for sweetness using liqueur d'expedition.
The task demands the mental skill of a chess grand master as literally endless permutations and combinations are considered. The blenders at Moet & Chandon typically have 300 different base wines from any one vintage to deal with the possible permutations are beyond calculation. one of the most fascinating, and important aspects of Champagne is the use of "reserve" wine held from earlier vintages. It may be held in magnums under slight gaseous pressure, in stainless steel, or less commonly in oak.
Champagne house's such as Krug have reserve wine of up to twenty years old, although in diminishing quantity with age. They will usually be held over from vintage years,and,tasted on their own, can be superb. reserve wines can be used at three stages in the making of Champagne. They can be incorporated in the primary ferment, then most commonly and importantly at the time of blending or assemblage along with the liqueur de tirage, and least importantly because of the tiny volume with the liqueur d'expedition . All the Champagne houses privately acknowledge that the quality and style of their reserve wines have a powerful influence on their overall house style, but tend to downplay this importance publicly.
 Vintage champagne is strictly directed under European Union legislation, eighty five percent of the wine must be from the stated vintage year, which would allow generous incorporation of reserve wine. Under the appellation controlee of Champagne, the wine must be one hundred percent from its stated vintage. So reserve wines are customarily used in the blending of vintage Champagne - and to its great benefit-just as much as with non-vintage wines. The Champenois and the Comite Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne are ever alert to emphasize their unique combination of terrior and climate. Champagne is France's northern most vineyard region. Without the special properties of its chalk soil, free - draining and sun reflecting, it would be a very doubtful area for ripening grapes.
At Chancellors Cellars we have assembled an extensive range of famous Champagnes for you to select.
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Krug Vintage 1998 Gift Box France 750ml x 6
Krug Vintage 1998 ... A statement of an exceptional past vintage, carefully stored in the Krug cellars. An absolute rarity, it is the ultimate expression of the legendary longevity of the Krug champagnes.
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Krug Vintage Clos Du Mesnil 1995 Wooden Box France 750ml x 1
Krug Vintage Clos Du Mesnil 1995 Wooden Box France...Since 1843, the Krug family has cultivated the individual character of their exceptional champagne. The Clos du Mesnil a single vineyard planted in 1698,reflects its terroir and vintage in the unmistakable Krug style.
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Krug Vintage Clos d' Ambonnay 1995 (Limited Availabilty) France 750ml x 1
"The House of Krug today reaches a landmark in history, and it is my privilege to share a secret we have guarded for so long" "More than two decades after Krug Clos du Mesnil, we are about to release another rare and exceptional champagne- a champagne whose character is so remarkable, it had to be Krug. This new Krug is a celebration of time, of savoir-faire, and one of our best-loved terroirs, revealed now in its fullest, most intense expression. The House of Krug is proud to present Clos d'Ambonnay."Henri and Remi Krug have wanted to produce a single-vineyard vintage Blanc de Noirs almost since they started to produce their Blanc e Blancs from Clos du Mesnil. The journey was to find a jewel vineyard of comparable quality. The village of Ambonnay was no surprise as the Krug family identified Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Ambonnay as the finest sources of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir since the 1840's, and both have played important roles in Krug Grand Cuvee ever since. Henri and Remi's grandfather referred to Ambonnay as "the Chateau Margaux of Champagne."The Krug's were already purchasing fruit from Clos d'Ambonnay in the 1980's when they tried to acquire it for themselves-achieving their goal in the mid-nineties. The vineyard is a mere 1.69 acres (a third of Clos du Mesnil) with only 250 cases produced from their first vintage in 1995. Put in perspective the production of Romanee Conti is double and Le Pin- four times the volume of Clos d'Ambonnay.Clos d'Ambonnay is bound to become a wine of legend with only the very rare few ever being able to try, let alone possess.
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Lanson Black Label NV 750ml x 6
Lanson Black Label Brut NV... The second has a lovely, hazy, pale straw colour, with a moderate bead. On the nose there are pleasing, forward notes of honey and straw notes, and little hints of richness. Alongside the full and fresh mousse there is plenty of interest, with mineral and seashell tones alongside more exuberant peachy notes, with an unusual slightly sandy-salty feel, wrapped up in an impressive, vinous mouhfeel. This wine doesn't have the dominating malic acidity that occurs in young Lanson BL although only cellared for just under a year. This delightfully fresh, cleansing, well defined wine is maturing nicely. It is ready to drink now, but should improve over next 3-5 years.
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Lanson Brut Rose NV 750ml x 6
Lanson Rosé Label NV.. Barely pink, and rather dirty on the nose, showing heavy-handed sulphur. Despite this the palate holds together well, has a creamy mousse and an attractive balance. There is firm acidity, and a decent red fruit character. Nevertheless, the nose has it.
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Laurent Perrier Champagne Brut Millesime 1999 Reims France Half Bottle 750ml x 6
The Brut Millésimé is made exclusively from wines from the very best crus or villages. Historically, most of these crus have formed the basis of Laurent-Perrier's champagnes. The most prestigious among them are: Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Tours-sur-Marne and Louvois. Composed of roughly equal parts of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - though the exact amounts vary depending on the characteristics of each vintage - it has considerable cellaring capacity.Tasting Notes : The nose is very elegant, blending ripe fruit aromas, such as pink grapefruit and yellow peach, with hints of chocolate and crème brûlée. The palate is pleasantly firm, with whiffs of vanilla. It opens to yellow fruit flavours and has a lingering, crisp finish that shows citrus-fruit flavours.Producer : Laurent-Perrier Method of Production : Only the juice from the first pressings was used for the vins clairs. The bottled wine was then aged for a minimum of six years on its lees - well above the legal minimum of three. After disgorging, dosage was light, about 9 g/l, to allow the light character of the wine to express itself. While champagne shows the character of a specific harvest, non-vintage brut exemplifies the style of a particular House. Freshness, elegance and balance, all of which are typical of Laurent-Perrier's wines, are found in the Brut L-P year after year.
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Laurent Perrier Champagne Cuvee Rose Brut NV Reims France 750ml x 6
This champagne is famous for its highly expressive bouquet, which stems from the very careful preservation of the grape's natural fresh red fruit aromas. It is one of the rare rosé champagnes to be made using the maceration (skin contact) technique, which gives it the extraordinary depth and freshness that has made it the benchmark for rosé champagne arounf the world. Revered by wine-lovers for its flavours and by aesthetes for the beauty of its 17th century-style bottle, the Cuvée Rosé Brut is one of the stars in the Laurent-Perrier range.Meticulous sorting of the grape bunches and controlled maceration help extract the colour and reveal the full aromatic richness of the pinot noir grapes. Unlike most rosé champagnes, the basis of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut is obtained by drawing the juice from black grapes in the vat, not only by blending red and white wines. It is cellared for at least four years, but cellaring may be adapted to preserve the fresh red fruit aromas. The Cuvée Rosé Brut makes a delicious apéritif. It pairs very well with charcuterie and poultry, and is an extraordinary match for red fruit desserts. The more daring will try it with Asian cuisine
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Laurent Perrier Champagne Grand Siecle Reims France 750ml x 6
Laurent-Perrier has been located at Tours-sur-Marne since its creation in 1812, placing it at the epicenter of three renowned Champagne vineyards: the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs. Since 1949, the House has climbed from 100th place worldwide to fourth place. The impulse behind this growth has come from Bernard de Nonancourt, a man with an ardent and courageous entrepreneurial spirit and the determination to create a unique brand, Champagne Laurent-Perrier. At the same time, over the years, the group has enriched its brand assets, adding Salon, Delamotte and Vicomte de Castellane to its slate after having acquired these prestigious Houses. Laurent Perrier has reversed the trend in Champagne with the de Nonancourt family repurchasing the 22 per cent stake held by IDV Spirits group. The overall style is ultra-elegant, Medium orange-gold color. Musky, wild aromas of strawberry, raspberry, smoke and earth; rather pinot noir-like and expressive of its soil. Rich, ripe and dense with material but not at all heavy; red berry flavors offer a compellingly tangy quality. Very concentrated and still very young. Finishes with superb lift and length
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Laurent Perrier Champagne Alexandra Rose 1999 Reims France 750ml x 6
The colour is a deepish salmon pink, reminiscent of a winter's sunset. The bead is fine and persistent. A complex and well-balanced nose that is reminiscent of orange peel and small red berry fruit. There are some lingering hints of yellow stone fruit (peaches and apricots) and it finishes with subtle mineral aromas.Full-bodied from the start, with clear flavours of black cherries. Powerful and long-lasting, with a finish that combines ripe red fruit with a firm grip.Known as the 'Ultimate Rose', it is a rare wine. Produced by the process known as 'saignee'. Only 100% rated Pinot Noir is used together with the addition of a small percentage of Chardonnay at the time of crushing.Grape Variety: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay.Background: Bernard de Nonancourt took the opportunity of his elder daughter Alexandra’s marriage in 1987 to create this vintage rosé Champagne. This delicate Rose was the best kept secret in the Tours-sur-Marne cellars until it was revealed as the surprise present at Alexandra's wedding.It expresses the very highest standards epitomised by the House of Laurent-Perrier, which also produces the benchmark non-vintage rosé Champagne. It was therefore a natural progression to produce a luxury cuvee rosé, an exclusive and rare wine that occupies a unique niche in its range.Alexandra Rosé is made from wines from the finest growths and exemplifies Laurent-Perrier's very high standards. The Pinot Noir undergoes a short maceration before Chardonnay is added for finesse. Ageing takes between 5 and 10 years, according to the characteristics of the vintage.The result is a delicately-coloured wine with unique and complex aromatic depth."A spectacular pink champagne of breeding and finesse that will disarm any recipient".
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